Time for Children, One’s Spouse and Oneself among Parents Who Work Nonstandard Hours

this article examines nonstandard work hours and their relationship to parents ’ family, leisure and personal care time – informing the discussion of the costs and benefits of working nonstandard hours. The results suggest that parents who work nonstandard evening hours spend less time in some child-related activities than their counterparts who work standard daytime hours, but spend more time and more time alone with children. Married parents who work nonstandard hours spend less time with a spouse, and all parents with nonstandard hours get less sleep and watch less television than parents with standard work days. Changes in the economic landscape, demographic shifts and advances in technology have reshaped when work takes place (Presser 2003). Within the past 40 years, the United States has experienced a tremendous growth in the service sector (Presser 2003). This expansion is partly fueled by the increased labor force participation of mothers, whose work in the home is replaced by a greater demand for homemaking services after standard work hours. Furthermore, delays in the timing of marriage and first birth means an increasing number of younger adults seek recreation and entertainment opportunities later in the evening and at night. Finally, advances in technology such as computers, faxes and Blackberries not only facilitate the ability to spread work across 24 hours each day and seven days a week, but increase the need to do so (Presser 2003). This trend toward a 24-7 service economy and the diffusion of work hours outside a standard work day has implications for families – particularly those with children. The lack of quality childcare during non-daytime hours and the rigidity of children’s school schedules typically impose a daily rhythm to parents ’ activities that largely requires adherence to a daytime schedule. The spreading of paid work into the evening and night hours The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from the National Institute of Child Healt